International Visitors to U.S. Expected to Reach Record 88.3 Million in 2014

Samantha Shankman, Skift

- Oct 23, 2014 7:30 am

Skift Take

Although tourism from emerging nations like Brazil and China is critical to America’s economic growth, consistent source markets including Canada and Mexico will remain the country’s bread and butter when it comes to travel dollars spent.

— Samantha Shankman

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International tourism to the U.S. is expected to grow to 88.3 million annual visitors 2019, a 27 percent increase and more than 18 million more visitors than arrived in the U.S. in 2013.

In the shorter term, visitor volume is expected to increase 5.9 percent to reach 73.9 million visitors who stay at least one night in the U.S. in 2014. The United States is expected to see visitor volume increase between 3.3 percent and 5.9 percent between now and 2019.

Eighteen of the top 20 origin countries for U.S. visits are expected to grow in the six-year period with the largest growth anticipated from China (172 percent), Colombia (72 percent), India (47 percent), Brazil (43 percent), and Mexico (38 percent).

Despite the media attention given to the consistent growth of China, Brazil and India, traditional source countries including Canada, Mexico, and the UK will drive actual volume growth. Canada, for example, sent more travelers to the U.S. in 2013 than China and Brazil combined.

The following chart from the National Travel and Tourism Office tracks visitor growth to the U.S. with projections for 2014 and beyond:

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